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Meet Your Neighbor: Jim Mason
By Callie Thomas
“You can dream, create, design and build the most wonderful place in the world, but it requires people to make the dream a reality.” – Walt Disney
Back in 1965, when 89074 resident Jim Mason’s family moved to Las Vegas, they didn’t know that they would be taking a literal part in making a difference in the way our city is viewed today. Taylor International, a family-owned and operated company specializing in hospitality, restaurant and commercial construction, has had a part in building some of the largest hotel casino projects in the state, including the original Caesars Palace, The International, MGM Grand (Las Vegas and Reno), Stratosphere, Desert Inn, Venetian and Palazzo. Jim Mason and his brother Bill purchased the company from their father Stuart in 1998 and became the third family generation to own the business. “Taylor is a small company who just so happens to do very big jobs,” says Mason. “We keep a small, dedicated staff that is committed to giving the client the best service possible. We get to know each owner and pride ourselves on personal attention to each job.”
Jim’s dedication, hard work and commitment are not only evident in the way he and his brother run their company, but also in the way he and his family stay involved with the community and help those in need. Growing up, he witnessed first-hand how his mother and father became examples of reaching out to others. Community involvement is an integral part of his own family, which includes wife Gwen and their two daughters, Rachel and Shelby. “For Gwen and I, being involved was never a question,” Jim said. While he and his family take an active role at Temple Beth Shalom, Congregation Ner Tamid, as well as community organizations such as Susan G. Komen Foundation, KNPR Public Radio and UNLV, their hearts are most closely associated with the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.
“I have had a connection to the Junior Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) for over 35 years. My mother and father helped start the local chapter after my sister was diagnosed with Type 1 juvenile diabetes,” he said.
The national organization is the leader in research to find a cure for Type 1 diabetes in the world. It is the largest charitable fundraiser and advocate of diabetes science world-wide and sets the global agenda for diabetes research. The mission of JDRF is to not only find a cure for the disease, but also the complications that may arise.
In the early days of the foundation, Taylor construction would provide office space for the organization to use where they launched the first fund drives, special events and awareness campaigns. Jim found himself stuffing envelopes around the Taylor conference table, as ball boy for the Sugar Daddy Tennis Tournament Fundraiser and later organizing groups for the Walk for a Cure. He has helped sell tables for the annual gala, and his wife Gwen has coordinated volunteers for the event. “I’ve always appreciated how the organization would not only help fund medical research, but also get involved on the front lines with assisting families coping with the day to day issues involved with this chronic condition,” says Jim. “As a business owner, I appreciate that JDRF consistently rates in the top 10 on utilization of each dollar donated.”
Jim Mason may be helping to build much of what Las Vegas offers to its visitors today, but he is also helping the people that make up our community. Helping others and giving back comes naturally to Jim as he sees it as another family tradition he intends to carry on. “Giving back is important. It is part of what I was taught you should do. It ultimately helps everyone in our community.”
